Reprinted by Permission of BizBash Media
With a look at locations, parties, and the city itself, event producer Cara Kleinhaut checks out how the French do Fashion Week.
Photo: Courtesy of Cara Kleinhaut
Le Grand Foyer at Palais Garnier The Palais Garnier’s Grand Foyer was the location of the Stella McCartney Spring/Summer 2015 collection on Monday, September 29.
And this is where they call “backstage.” Nicest one I’ve seen!
A gala in the Grand Foyer!
As one popular Parisian fashion blogger, Emilie of the Brunette put it: “In Paris, you could have shows in churches, private apartments, gardens, schools. There is possibility everywhere in Paris. but NYC shows are almost always in the same place” and not that interesting of spaces.
And a more exclusive experience it is. Though I have not checked under every tapis rouge (red carpet, that is), we just have not seen the branded presence we see at NYFW. The special viewing and recharge lounges like American Express’s SkyBox Lounge and Target’s Every Day Café just don’t exist. Instead, everyone flocks to the hot cafès in town, Instagrams their lunch—coffee and macarons—and then continues on to the next show. Beauty bars, product sampling, interactive brand experiences, or pop-ups as they once were known, all n’existe pas over here. It’s about nabbing your invite to the show, getting together in smaller groups for breakfasts and lunches, shooting great content for your blog (lots of posing at the Louvre this morning), and then, well, there are the dinners and the parties to go to at night. But you better have an invitation in hand!
There is a big difference in the parties too. Again, we didn’t see any sponsor integrations, even at a magazine-hosted party at the new hot spot in town, Faust, built under the Alexander III bridge. Since dinner is at 9 p.m., parties are late, dark, and discreet. Not exactly Instagram-ready moments! The guys in town to know have a blog called Ten Days in Paris. In their cheeky way, they give the list of all the parties of the week, the locations, and your chances by percentage of getting in if you’re not on the list. While their focus is primarily trying to find hot models, it’s a useful resource if you really want to party hop.
And of course there are the top luxury hotels. With sweeping city views, they serve as home base for the fashionista set, but also host exclusive and private soirees in their terrace view suites, such as Kanye and Kim’s shindig on Wednesday night on a private terrace at the new Peninsula Paris. Private dinners, daytime meetings, and also a show here and there, the hotels serve as command central for PFW out-of-town attendees. There is the classic Grande Dame Le Meurice (just as busy as ever, by the way) to the newest gleaming hotel, kind of the new command central of PFW, the Peninsula Paris.
The Peninsula Paris A gleaming new masterpiece and popular fashion industry hang, the Peninsula Paris offers sweeping views—plus a glimpse of L’Oiseau Blanc restaurant—from its brand-new rooftop terrace suite, one of the very few in Paris.
Le Meurice
A bed fit for a king and queen at Le Meurice.
And of course there are the top luxury hotels. With sweeping city views, they serve as home base for the fashionista set, but also host exclusive and private soirees in their terrace view suites, such as Kanye and Kim’s shindig on Wednesday night on a private terrace at the new Peninsula Paris. Private dinners, daytime meetings, and also a show here and there, the hotels serve as command central for PFW out-of-town attendees. There is the classic Grande Dame Le Meurice (just as busy as ever, by the way) to the newest gleaming hotel, kind of the new command central of PFW, the Peninsula Paris.
But if a more urban art scene feels like home to you, something that reminded me a little of the Ace Hotels, is the Hotel Molitor. Once an exclusive private pool club then an abandoned street art rave wasteland, it is now totally refurbished into a contemporary haven fusing street art with popping colors and modern design, and the original pool as the central focus.
As we move deeper into PFW we’re set to visit some talented floral designer’s ateliers (a very pretty word for workshop), Instagram-ready decor being created by some of the newer event design talent, and, of course, there’s Bureau Betak, the king of the event designers here in Paris, working on some of the biggest shows, including Christian Dior, which always stuns with floral walls and elaborate sets. And for the daily moments, fave café’s, and my ridiculous attempt to look like a fashion blogger, you can hop over to everyone’s favorite addiction du jour, Instagram, and say hi @Caravents#CaraventsInParis!
Hotel Molitor Paris
This is the Molitor’s pool, which is the central feature, lit at night. There are other spaces available, including the rooftop, pool area, and a second pool next door, which can be drained! Other events have put subflooring over the pool for live concerts.
Hotel Molitor Paris
Street art, including pieces by famed Mr. Brainwash, are woven into the decor throughout the hotel.
Hotel Molitor Paris Not your typical meeting room—bright colors, modern furnishings, and authentic street art mural decor at the Molito
Venturing to the outskirts of Paris to the workshop of the talented Baptiste Pitou was well worth the journey. First, it was the most immaculate warehouse I have ever seen. Floral designer to Cartier, Piaget, and Sotheby’s, and with his wife as his partner, (I like that, of course) Baptiste has created dreamy installations for nearly 20 years. We even got a look at some hand-drawn sketches.
